10th Annual Dancefestopia revealed for fall in Kansas City

High energy is the best way to describe Dancefestopia in Kansas City. With more than 150 artists over the span of six days, September 6th through 11th, there is plenty to keep you busy at this 100% local, independently operated and funded music festival — one of the few remaining in the United States. If […]

California Roots 2022: Day One

Cali Roots 2022 came and went, and we are all the better for it. All the waiting, wishing, praying was worth it — just like we had faith it would be. Patience was a small price to pay for what we experienced Memorial Day Weekend and those hugs, smiles, laughs were the currency. Most of […]

A chat with Atmosphere at Cali Roots Fest 2022

Who doesn’t love a good Atmosphere show? One half of the hip hop duo sits down with Top Shelf Music’s Alexia Johnson at California Roots Festival 2022, ahead of his big Bowl Stage performance. Tune in to hear what Slug thinks of the popular hip hop-meets-reggae Memorial Weekend event in Monterey, his summer plans to […]

This Ain’t No Picnic coming to Pasadena in August 2022

In the fine words of Sheryl Crow, “this ain’t no disco” and “it ain’t no country club, either”. That’s right, because alternative rock is harder and here to stay. In this same vein, the fine festival producers over at Goldenvoice introduced This Ain’t No Picnic to high acclaim, set to grace the Pasadena Rose Bowl […]

Almost one month before Lollapalooza 2022

It’s that time of year again in Chicago! No, we’re not talking about the green-dyed Chicago River for St. Patty’s Day… we’re talking GREEN Day and 170+ other musical artists taking the nine stages at Grant Park for the annual (and utterly massive) international music festival known as Lollapalooza! Four days of impressive lineups and […]

Traveling back in time with The Mixtape Tour 2022 in San Diego

Entering Viejas Arena on May 26th was like going back in time. Fans lined the amphitheater, dressed in their best 80s attire, exhilarated and antsy to get inside and start witnessing what the new Mixtape Tour would bring! For those who don’t know, this is the second national Mixtape Tour, with the first before the […]

Tech N9ne turns up St. Louis, Missouri

Tech N9ne recently travelled across Missouri from his hometown of Kansas City to perform for a packed crowd at The Pageant in St. Louis. Tech has played this venue at least 10 times over the years and it was clear he felt right at home. This night, the full room of rap fans were in […]

In memoriam of Andy J. Chaves, beloved artist gone too soon

Andy J. Chaves, the dynamic and ever-unique founding member of Tempe, AZ-based indie/alternative band Katastro, has died at 32. Known for his hard-hitting verses, overflowing charisma and spectacular style (in both fashion and overall swagger), the untraditional vocalist always marched to the beat of his own drum. The very drum that fellow band member and […]

Austin City Limits lineup announced for Fall 2022

Yeehaw, it’s OFFICIAL! The 2022 Austin City Limits Festival (ACL) lineup is here and it’s impressive. Like past years, the headliners are an eclectic mix and wide-ranging, from new-to-the scene artists to billboard chart-toppers to veteran bands that have been rocking festival circuits for years. Given the prowess and clout of ACL and its history, […]

Lil Durk & OTF crew leaves St. Louis lit

Hip hop fans in St. Louis gathered in the open air as Hollywood Casino Amphitheater opened its 2022 season with Chicago’s newest rap superstar, Lil Durk, and the rest of his OTF (Only The Family) crew. The energy in the venue was high before the show even started. As the crowd began to fill in […]

15 songs to countdown Cali Roots 2022

The countdown has officially begun! Who’s been listening to the Cali Roots playlist and getting ready for Memorial Day Weekend in Monterey? I know I’ve been planning outfits, checking the lineup, looking at photos from years’ past, getting hyped about seeing everyone’s faces and doing it all while listening to the official California Roots playlist […]

Tech N9ne takes over Santa Cruz’s Catalyst Club

On Tuesday April 19th, I made my way to The Catalyst Club in Santa Cruz for Tech N9ne’s ASIN9NE Tour with special guests ¡Mayday!, Joey Cool and X-Raided. This was my first show back under The Catalyst Club’s roof after two years due to the pandemic — obviously it was a very special show for me. […]

Two full weeks of SXSW 2022

SXSW is known for many things… whether it’s throngs of happy music lovers, rediscovering their love of seeking the best new bands, or the pack of tech guys in networking nirvana. Or, the film geeks and geek-ettes, gawking in gritty discourse over the merits (or lack thereof) of their latest screening. For me, though, SX […]